(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Grain groups give low marks to AgriStability tweaks

Ottawa — A recent meeting of the country’s agriculture ministers failed in providing effective support for farmers facing challenges, Grain Growers of Canada chair Jeff Nielsen says. Only minor changes were made to AgriStability, the main priority item on the agenda for the Ottawa meeting held Tuesday. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and her provincial […] Read more

Agriculture ministers meeting Tuesday in Ottawa included (l-r) Devin Dreeshen (Alberta), David Marit (Saskatchewan), Bloyce Thompson (P.E.I.), Andre Lamontagne (Quebec), Marie-Claude Bibeau (Canada), Ernie Hardeman (Ontario), Blaine Pedersen (Manitoba), Lana Popham (B.C.) and Keith Colwell (Nova Scotia). (Photo courtesy AAFC)

Feds, provinces plan minor tweaks to AgriStability

Ottawa — Minor changes are coming to AgriStability following Tuesday’s meeting between federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and her provincial counterparts. Major changes, however, will have to wait. A full review of federal business risk management (BRM) will be completed in April, with the findings discussed when the federal, provincial and territorial ministers meet again […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Liberals pledge revamp of federal farm lender

The federal Liberals’ platform heading into the Oct. 21 election calls for an “expanded and enhanced” role for Farm Credit Canada in supporting the country’s agriculture and agrifood sectors. Platform documents released Sunday last week (Sept. 29) call for the merger of several existing federal financial and advisory services — which the Liberals said are […] Read more

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau (fifth from left) meets in Quebec City with provincial and territorial ag ministers. (CNW Group/Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)

Ag ministers aim for AgriStability upgrades for 2020

Coming out of their meeting in Quebec City, Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial ministers for agriculture say they plan to meet again before year’s end to see about improving the AgriStability program for 2020. In a statement Friday, the ministers said they discussed “adjustments that could improve existing (business risk management) programs to address the […] Read more



The production and inventory information required for AgriStability should be tracked regardless of your enrolment in the program.

AgriStability enrolment deadline extended

One more chance to sign up, as farm program deadline extended to July 2, 2019

May 1, when most producers were in the field or preparing to get there, the federal government announced the 2019 AgriStability program year enrolment deadline would be extended to July 2, 2019. The extension was in response to the canola dispute with China and gives producers a second opportunity to review their financial risk management […] Read more



Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announces expansion of the federal Advance Payments Program in Ottawa on May 1, 2019, flanked by Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr (l) and his fellow Winnipeg MPs Dan Vandal, Robert Falcon-Ouellette and Terry Duguid. (Video screengrab from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada via Facebook Live)

APP pumped up, AgriStability deadline extended against China canola ban

The federal Advance Payments Program’s loan limits and interest-free portions will be raised and the deadline for AgriStability enrolment extended in a bid to help Canadian canola growers with cash flow. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and International Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr on Wednesday announced the expansions and extensions along with plans to engage other […] Read more


(Silverjohn/iStock/Getty Images)

B.C. grants late AgriStability enrolment for 2018

Fire, flooding and a drop in raspberry prices in 2018 have spurred the federal and British Columbia governments to trigger the AgriStability late-participation mechanism. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and her provincial counterpart Lana Popham, at an event Monday in Vernon, B.C., invoked the new late-participation rule for the 2018 AgriStability program year, “to help farmers […] Read more

AgriStability program changes

These changes to AgriStability could benefit farmers joining or re-joining the program

Whether you’re in the AgriStability program or considering getting into the AgriStability program, it’s important that you understand a few program changes that have been made recently. First, a quick review of how the program works. In simple terms, AgriStability calculates your profit history, based on your income and your allowable expenses (this includes expenses […] Read more